‘When I was 11 I started training twice a day, every day.’ Fearsome Uzbek prospect Israil Madrimov

Israil Madrimov

When and why you started boxing:
I started boxing once or twice a week when I was 7 years old. When I was 11, I began to train twice a day, every day.

Favourite all-time fighter:
My favourite all-time fighter is Muhammad Ali, both in and out of the ring, because of his history, religion and position in the world.

Best fight you’ve seen:
The best fight Iโ€™ve seen live is Gennady Golovkin against Sergiy Derevyanchenko.

Personal career highlight:
Winning gold at the Asian Games in 2018.

Toughest opponent:
All world-class opponents are tough, but Eumir Marcial was probably the toughest. [Madrimov outpointed Marcial in the semi-final of the 2018 Asian Games.]

Best and worst attributes as a boxer:
My physique and explosiveness are my strongest weapons. Iโ€™ve only had four professional fights, so I need to gain more experience.

Training tip:
Stay patient.

Favourite meal/restaurant:
I am an Uzbek โ€“ we like to eat! Uzbek restaurants are my favourite, and my favourite meal is plov โ€“ the signature dish of Uzbekistan.

Best friends in boxing:
My best friends in boxing are also my best friends in life โ€“ [fellow unbeaten Uzbek pros] Murodjon Akhmadaliev, Bakhodir Jalolov and Bektemir Melikuziev.

Other sportsman you would like to be:
Iโ€™ve always loved to play soccer, so Iโ€™d be a soccer player.

Last film/TV show you saw:
Iโ€™m not a big movie guy. The last thing I watched was a Turkish TV show.

Who would play you in a film of your life:
Thatโ€™s an interesting question! Hmm, maybe Jackie Chan.

Have you ever been starstruck:
Iโ€™m a big fan of Gennady Golovkin. It was amazing to meet him and fight on his show as the chief support. [When Golovkin fought Steve Rolls, Madrimov was the main undercard attraction.] ย 

Last time you cried:
I cried after my last amateur bout at the 2019 Asian Championships [versus Tursynbay Kulakhmet in the quarter-final]. I thought I won the fight, but I didnโ€™t get the decision.

Best advice received:
My father always told me to tell the truth, no matter how hard it is.

Worst rumour about yourself:
That Iโ€™m selfish and unreachable even for my friends and family.

Something not many people know about you:
I like to dance.

Share Page